2018 MLB Coach of the Year, Houston Astros pitching coach Brent Strom makes a mound visit.
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Frequent ISG Presenter Named MLB Coach of the YearOne of the most prolific speakers at ISG Baseball international clinics over the past 12 years, Brent Strom was announced today as MLB Coach of the Year by Baseball America. Strommie, as he is known, has spoken in the Netherlands, Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic and Belgium, just to name a few of his stops. Always entertaining - and certainly telling it like it is! - he has been a favorite of coaches at our instructional clinics for years.
The former Cardinals and Nationals pitching coordinator and now the MLB coach of the 2017 World Champion Houston Astros, Brent has always been on the cutting edge of pitching instruction and many former and current pro pitchers have mentioned how responsible he has been to their success in the big leagues. Just recently Strom served as the pitching coach for an MLB All Star team that toured Japan. From all of us at ISG Baseball...Congrats Brent! 
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2018 MLB Coaching Moves Include Many ISG Clinicians Derek Johnson Cincinnati Reds
It's a rite of passage - in the same way that teams reporting to Arizona and Florida in February is a harbinger of spring - when the World Series ends, the game of musical coaches begins.
This year is no exception but in recent weeks many of those involved in the game have been outstanding contributors to ISG Coaching Clinics world wide. Here are just a few: Former Vanderbilt coach Derek Johnson moves from the Brewers to the Cincinnati Reds as their pitching coach after many Milwaukee hurlers testified that his work contributed greatly to the Brew Crew's 2018 success. DJ has spoken several times at European clinics. Also changing addresses this month was Houston Astro hitting coach Jeff Albert who moves back to St. Louis as the Cardinals major league guy. Albert, who was a featured speaker at the ISG/European Baseball Coaches Assn. clinic in Vienna in 2008, was a minor league coach in the St. Louis system for many years. This year's ISG/EBCA featured Paul Davis, long time coach and coordinator in the Cardinals system who was just named the Seattle Mariners big league pitching coach
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ISG - Same Mission and Goals;
Brand New Name
Over the past decade or so, one of the major corporate trends has been re-branding of product names and symbols. Like using Twitter and Snapchat, it's seems to be the "in" thing to do. Well, we at ISG are not immune to these trends...in fact we have decided to embrace them.
Although the main thrust of International Sports Group (ISG) has always been the development and education of baseball coaches worldwide, over the years our name has caused some confusion in sporting circles. Originally, our beloved founder Bill Arce intended that the group not only educate coaches, but also arrange opportunities for baseball and softball teams to visit Europe and compete internationally. However, the mission of educating baseball coaches soon became the overriding passion of our organization.
Because everyone in baseball recognizes our initials - ISG - and associates them with baseball clinics, seminars and licensing opportunities, we have decided to only use those initials in the future. From this point on, all of our publicity and endeavors will be re-labeled with a name we think is a much more accurate reflection of our mission and our goals.
We look forward to serving the baseball federations of the world as we head into our 36th year flying our new colors and our new brand -- ISG BASEBALL
Although the main thrust of International Sports Group (ISG) has always been the development and education of baseball coaches worldwide, over the years our name has caused some confusion in sporting circles. Originally, our beloved founder Bill Arce intended that the group not only educate coaches, but also arrange opportunities for baseball and softball teams to visit Europe and compete internationally. However, the mission of educating baseball coaches soon became the overriding passion of our organization.
Because everyone in baseball recognizes our initials - ISG - and associates them with baseball clinics, seminars and licensing opportunities, we have decided to only use those initials in the future. From this point on, all of our publicity and endeavors will be re-labeled with a name we think is a much more accurate reflection of our mission and our goals.
We look forward to serving the baseball federations of the world as we head into our 36th year flying our new colors and our new brand -- ISG BASEBALL
Work Continues on ISG Baseball-Backed Ukraine Baseball ComplexRecently ISG Baseball continued its support of the new baseball complex in the Ukraine when Vice President Pete Caliendo visited the country and had conversations with the key developers there.
Caliendo provided the key players with advice on acquiring further funding including cooperation with the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) and procuring local funding. The meetings were part of the mission of ISG Baseball to grow the game worldwide especially in areas, such as Eastern Europe, which are ripe for development. To date, ISG Baseball has helped Ukraine Baseball raise over $20,000 for this project. Featured below is the newly finished back stop and dugout. 
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Coaches - Are You a True Professional?
One of the best resources coaches have on the internet, the Changing the Game Project continually prints articles of pivotal importance for coaches of all sports at all levels.
A recent article focused on the importance of continuing education for coaches, especially if they consider their work professional. For too long, we have tolerated mediocrity in the coaching of baseball. Just because someone played the game in the past, does not mean they are competent to coach the game today. Baseball is changing rapidly and unless coaches keep attending clinics - such as those offered by ISG BASEBALL - they stand a chance of teaching outmoded and even harmful techniques to the players in their charge. The following link centers on making our coaching jobs a "true" profession and is a "must read" for all coaches. http://changingthegameproject.com/make-coaching-true-profession/ 
Players and coaches at the recent Ukraine Coaches Development program completed in February.
Detailed plans for the new field.
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Caliendo Conducts Certification Clinic for CEB License in Sofia, BulgariaBeginning in 2015, International Sports Group and the European Baseball Confederation (CEB) began an illustrious partnership to further develop coaching in Europe. Last year, coaches in Croatia and the Ukraine were instructed in some of the finer points of the game and are now spreading their knowledge throughout their nations.
This July, the first of the 2017-18 seminars will be held in Bulgaria. Pete Caliendo will conduct the week long classes for Bulgarian coaches which will lead to certification from CEB. Further information about the certification process and how a nation may become involved can be obtained by contacting President Tom O'Connell. 
Above: ISG Vice President Pete Caliendo and the Bulgarian U23 team talk strategy.
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Baseball Canada's Vision for Long Term Athletic Development Shared in Coaching Tips Section
Baseball Canada is miles ahead of the curve when it comes to developing athletes for life-long success. Thanks to our friend Andre Lachance, they have allowed us to share the scope of that vision with you. Check out our coaching tips section for a graphic illustration of their LTAD plans.
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